Belgian Basketball League (Pro Basketball League) History

League status

The Pro Basketball League is the first-tier professional basketball league in Belgium. PBL was established in 1928.

The PBL sits above the Top Division I which effectively forms the second-tier of Belgian basketball.

At the end of regular season, top 6 teams qualify to the play-offs.

Limits of non-Belgian players per team: 6 import players (non-Europeans), 6 Bosman players (with European passport) . Total number of allowed imports and Bosmans is 6.

League name history

1928-2011: Division I 1928-1929 1929-1930 1930-1931 1931-1932 1932-1933 1933-1934 1934-1935 1935-1936 1936-1937 1937-1938 1938-1939 1939-1940 1940-1941 1941-1942 1942-1943 1943-1944 1944-1945 1945-1946 1946-1947 1947-1948 1948-1949 1949-1950 1950-1951 1951-1952 1952-1953 1953-1954 1954-1955 1955-1956 1956-1957 1957-1958 1958-1959 1959-1960 1960-1961 1961-1962 1962-1963 1963-1964 1964-1965 1965-1966 1966-1967 1967-1968 1968-1969 1969-1970 1970-1971 1971-1972 1972-1973 1973-1974 1974-1975 1975-1976 1976-1977 1977-1978 1978-1979 1979-1980 1980-1981 1981-1982 1982-1983 1983-1984 1984-1985 1985-1986 1986-1987 1987-1988 1988-1989 1989-1990 1990-1991 1991-1992 1992-1993 1993-1994 1994-1995 1995-1996 1996-1997 1997-1998 1998-1999 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011

2011-2014: Ethias League 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014

2014-2016: Scooore League 2014-2015 2015-2016

2016-2021: Euromillions League 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021

2021 until now: Pro Basketball League 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025 2025-2026

League logos

Until 2007

2007-

2011-2014

2014-2016

2016-2021

Since 2021

Title holders

1927-28: Brussels A.C.
1928-29: Daring CB
1929-30: Brussels A.C.
1930-31: Brussels A.C.
1931-32: Daring B.C. Brussels
1932-33: Brussels A.C.
1933-34: Daring CB
1934-35: Amicale Sportive
1935-36: Amicale Sportive
1936-37: Fresh Air Club
1937-38: Fresh Air Club
1938-39: Royal IV Brussels
1939-40: Not held [+] Not held due to WWII
1940-41: Not held [+] Not held due to WWII
1941-42: Royal IV
1942-43: Not held [+] Not held due to WWII
1943-44: Not held [+] Not held due to WWII
1944-45: Not held [+] Not held due to WWII
1945-46: Semailles BC Brussels
1946-47: Semailles BC Brussels
1947-48: Semailles BC Brussels
1948-49: Semailles BC Brussels
1949-50: Semailles BC Brussels
1950-51: Semailles BC Brussels
1951-52: Royal IV Brussels
1952-53: Royal IV Brussels
1953-54: Royal IV Brussels
1954-55: KBBC Gent
1955-56: Antwerpse BC
1956-57: Royal IV Brussels
1957-58: Royal IV Brussels
1958-59: Antwerpse BC
1959-60: Antwerpse BC

1927-28: Brussels A.C.
1928-29: Daring CB
1929-30: Brussels A.C.
1930-31: Brussels A.C.
1931-32: Daring B.C. Brussels
1932-33: Brussels A.C.
1933-34: Daring CB
1934-35: Amicale Sportive
1935-36: Amicale Sportive
1936-37: Fresh Air Club
1937-38: Fresh Air Club
1938-39: Royal IV Brussels
1939-40: Not held [+] Not held due to WWII
1940-41: Not held [+] Not held due to WWII
1941-42: Royal IV
1942-43: Not held [+] Not held due to WWII
1943-44: Not held [+] Not held due to WWII
1944-45: Not held [+] Not held due to WWII
1945-46: Semailles BC Brussels
1946-47: Semailles BC Brussels
1947-48: Semailles BC Brussels
1948-49: Semailles BC Brussels
1949-50: Semailles BC Brussels
1950-51: Semailles BC Brussels
1951-52: Royal IV Brussels
1952-53: Royal IV Brussels
1953-54: Royal IV Brussels
1954-55: KBBC Gent
1955-56: Antwerpse BC
1956-57: Royal IV Brussels
1957-58: Royal IV Brussels
1958-59: Antwerpse BC
1959-60: Antwerpse BC
1960-61: Antwerpse BC
1961-62: Antwerpse BC
1962-63: Antwerpse BC
1963-64: Antwerpse BC
1964-65: Racing Mechelen
1965-66: Racing Mechelen
1966-67: Racing Basket Mechelen
1967-68: Standard Liege
1968-69: Racing Bell Mechelen
1969-70: SBR Standard Liege
1970-71: Bus Fruit Lier BBC
1971-72: Bus Fruit Lier BBC
1972-73: Racing Ford Antwerpen
1973-74: Racing Maes Pils Mechelen
1974-75: Racing Maes Pils Mechelen
1975-76: Racing Maes Pils Mechelen
1976-77: Standard Boule d'Or Liege

Championships by club

Titles	Club	Years
27	Oostende	1980-81, 1981-82, 1982-83, 1983-84, 1984-85, 1985-86, 1987-88, 1994-95, 2000-01, 2001-02, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26
15	Mechelen	1964-65, 1965-66, 1966-67, 1968-69, 1973-74, 1974-75, 1975-76, 1979-80, 1986-87, 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94
10	Charleroi	1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98, 1998-99, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11
9	Antwerp	1955-56, 1958-59, 1959-60, 1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63, 1963-64, 1972-73, 1999-00
9	Royal Brussels	1938-39, 1941-42, 1951-52, 1952-53, 1953-54, 1956-57, 1957-58, 1977-78, 1978-79
6	Semailles	1945-46, 1946-47, 1947-48, 1948-49, 1949-50, 1950-51
4	Brussels A.C.	1929-30, 1930-31, 1932-33, 1927-28
3	Daring	1928-29, 1931-32, 1933-34
3	Standard Liege	1967-68, 1969-70, 1976-77
2	Fresh Air Helmet	1936-37, 1937-38
2	Guco Lier	1970-71, 1971-72
2	NIORT	1934-35, 1935-36
1	Bree	2004-05
1	Gent KBBC	1954-55

Finals year-by-year

Season	Champion	Result	Runner-Up
1927-28	Brussels A.C.		Daring CB
Season	Winner	Result	Finalist	Regular Season Champ
1928-29	Daring CB	16-13	Brussels A.C.	Daring CB
1929-30	Brussels A.C.
1930-31	Brussels A.C.
1931-32	Daring B.C. Brussels
1932-33	Brussels A.C.
1933-34	Daring CB
1934-35	Amicale Sportive		Amicale Sportive	William EC
1935-36	Amicale Sportive		Amicale Sportive
1936-37	Fresh Air Club
1937-38	Fresh Air Club		Amicale Sport
1938-39	Royal IV Brussels
1939-41	Not held [+] Not held due to WWII
1941-42	Royal IV		Bell BBC
1942-45	Not held [+] Not held due to WWII
1945-46	Semailles BC Brussels		Sporting CL Liege
1946-47	Semailles BC Brussels		Sporting CL Liege
1947-48	Semailles BC Brussels		Hellas Gent
1948-49	Semailles BC Brussels		Hellas Gent
1949-50	Semailles BC Brussels		Hellas Gent
1950-51	Semailles BC Brussels		Royal IV Brussels
1951-52	Royal IV Brussels		Hellas Gent
1952-53	Royal IV Brussels		Hellas Gent
1953-54	Royal IV Brussels		Antwerpse BC
1954-55	KBBC Gent		Antwerpse BC
1955-56	Antwerpse BC		BBC Hellas Gent
1956-57	Royal IV Brussels		Antwerpse BC
1957-58	Royal IV Brussels		Antwerpse BC
1958-59	Antwerpse BC		Royal IV Brussels
1959-60	Antwerpse BC		ZaZiko Antwerp
1960-61	Antwerpse BC		VG Oostende
1961-62	Antwerpse BC		VG Oostende
1962-63	Antwerpse BC		VG Oostende
1963-64	Antwerpse BC		VG Oostende
1964-65	Racing Mechelen		Antwerpse BC
1965-66	Racing Mechelen		VG Oostende
1966-67	Racing Basket Mechelen		Royal IV SC Anderlecht
1967-68	Standard Liege		Racing Bell Mechelen
1968-69	Racing Bell Mechelen		SBR Standard Liege
1969-70	SBR Standard Liege		Bus Fruit Lier BBC
1970-71	Bus Fruit Lier BBC		Racing Bell Mechelen
1971-72	Bus Fruit Lier BBC		Racing Ford Antwerpen
1972-73	Racing Ford Antwerpen		Carad Brugge
1973-74	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen		Racing Thorens Antwerpen
1974-75	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen		Racing Thorens Antwerpen
1975-76	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen		Standard Boule d'Or Liege
1976-77	Standard Boule d'Or Liege		Racing Maes Pils Mechelen
1977-78	Royal Fresh Air Molenbeek		Boule d'Or Liege
1978-79	Royal Fresh Air Molenbeek		Boule d'Or Liege
1979-80	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen	3-1	Royal SC Anderlecht	Standard Boule d'Or Liege
1980-81	Sunair BC Oostende	3-2	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen	Sunair BC Oostende
1981-82	Sunair BC Oostende	3-2	BC TopTours Aarschot	Sunair BC Oostende
1982-83	Sunair BC Oostende	3-0	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen	Sunair BC Oostende
1983-84	Sunair BC Oostende	3-1	BBC Hellas Gent	Sunair BC Oostende
1984-85	Sunair BC Oostende	3-0	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen	Sunair BC Oostende
1985-86	Sunair BC Oostende	3-1	Maccabi Etterbeek Brussels	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen
1986-87	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen	3-1	Trane Castors Braine	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen
1987-88	Sunair BC Oostende	3-1	Trane Castors Braine	Sunair BC Oostende
1988-89	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen	3-2	Trane Castors Braine	Trane Castors Braine
1989-90	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen	3-2	Trane Castors Braine	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen
1990-91	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen	3-2	Sunair BC Oostende	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen
1991-92	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen	3-2	Trane Castors Braine	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen
1992-93	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen	3-1	Spirou BC Charleroi	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen
1993-94	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen	3-2	Spirou BC Charleroi	Racing Maes Pils Mechelen
1994-95	Sunair BC Oostende	3-2	Spirou BC Charleroi	Sunair BC Oostende
1995-96	Pepsi Spirou Charleroi	3-0	Sunair BC Oostende	Pepsi Spirou Charleroi
1996-97	Pepsi Spirou Charleroi	3-0	Sunair BC Oostende	Pepsi Spirou Charleroi
1997-98	Spirou BC Charleroi	3-0	Racing Maes Pils Antwerp	Spirou BC Charleroi
1998-99	Spirou BC Charleroi	3-1	Racing Basket Telindus Antwerpen	BBC Okapi Aalstar
1999-00	Racing Basket Telindus Antwerpen	3-1	Telindus BC Oostende	Telindus BC Oostende
2000-01	Telindus BC Oostende	3-0	Spirou BC Charleroi	Telindus BC Oostende
2001-02	Telindus BC Oostende	3-2	Spirou BC Charleroi	Spirou BC Charleroi
2002-03	Spirou BC Charleroi	3-0	Go Pass Pepinster	Spirou BC Charleroi
2003-04	Spirou BC Charleroi	3-2	Euphony Liege	Spirou BC Charleroi
2004-05	Euphony Bree BBC	3-1	Spirou BC Charleroi	Spirou BC Charleroi
2005-06	Telindus BC Oostende	3-1	Dexia Mons-Hainaut	Telindus BC Oostende
2006-07	Telindus BC Oostende	3-2	Euphony Bree BBC	Spirou BC Charleroi
2007-08	Spirou BC Charleroi	3-0	Bree Basket	Spirou BC Charleroi
2008-09	Spirou BC Charleroi	3-0	Dexia Mons-Hainaut	Spirou BC Charleroi
2009-10	Spirou BC Charleroi	3-1	Belgacom Liege	Belgacom Liege
2010-11	Spirou BC Charleroi	3-0	Generali Okapi Aalstar	Spirou BC Charleroi
2011-12	Telenet BC Oostende	3-2	Belgacom Spirou Charleroi	Port of Antwerp Giants
2012-13	Telenet BC Oostende	3-0	Belfius Mons-Hainaut	Telenet BC Oostende
2013-14	Telenet BC Oostende	3-2	Okapi Aalstar	Telenet BC Oostende
2014-15	Telenet BC Oostende	3-1	Belfius Mons-Hainaut	Telenet BC Oostende
2015-16	Telenet BC Oostende	3-1	Okapi Aalstar	Proximus Spirou Charleroi
2016-17	Telenet BC Oostende	3-1	Basic-Fit Brussels	Crelan Okapi Aalstar
2017-18	Filou Oostende	3-0	Telenet Giants Antwerp	Filou Oostende
2018-19	Filou Oostende	3-1	Telenet Giants Antwerp	Filou Oostende
2019-20	Filou Oostende		Belfius Mons-Hainaut	Filou Oostende
2020-21	Filou Oostende	3-1	Belfius Mons-Hainaut	Filou Oostende
2021-22	Filou Oostende	3-1	Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen	Stella Artois Leuven Bears
2022-23	Filou Oostende	3-1	Telenet Giants Antwerp
2023-24	Filou Oostende	3-1	Telenet Giants Antwerp
2024-25	Filou Oostende	3-1	Kangoeroes Basket Mechelen
2025-26	Filou Oostende	3-2	Telenet Giants Antwerp

Finals participants

Club	W	L	Total
Oostende	27	9	36
Antwerp	9	15	24
Mechelen	15	6	21
Charleroi	10	7	17
Royal Brussels	8	4	12
Merelbeke Hawks	0	7	7
Standard Liege	3	4	7
Mons-Hainaut	0	6	6
Semailles	6	0	6
Castors Braine	0	5	5
NIORT	2	3	5
Aalst	0	3	3
Bree	1	2	3
Guco Lier	2	1	3
Mechelen	0	2	2
Brussels	0	2	2
Liege	0	2	2
Brussels A.C.	1	1	2
Daring	1	1	2
Sporting CL	0	2	2
Pepinster	0	1	1
Fresh Air Helmet	1	0	1
Aarschot	0	1	1
Gent KBBC	1	0	1
Brugge	0	1	1
Zaziko Antwerp	0	1	1
Bell Antwerp	0	1	1

Final Four participants

Club	1st	2nd	3rd	4th
Oostende	26	9	3	10
Mechelen	15	6	3	3
Charleroi	10	7	6	2
Antwerp	9	15	8	9
Royal Brussels	7	4	11	3
Semailles	6	0	1	4
Standard Liege	3	4	1	6
NIORT	2	3	0	0
Guco Lier	2	1	1	1
Bree	1	2	1	2
Brussels A.C.	1	1	2	0
Daring	1	1	0	0
Fresh Air Helmet	1	0	0	1
Gent KBBC	1	0	0	0
Mons-Hainaut	0	6	9	2
Castors Braine	0	5	1	1
Liege	0	2	1	1
Mechelen	0	2	0	1
Sporting CL	0	2	0	0
Pepinster	0	1	3	0
Brussels	0	1	2	2
Zaziko Antwerp	0	1	2	0
Brugge	0	1	1	4
Aarschot	0	1	1	0
Limburg	0	0	5	3
Molenbeek	0	0	3	7
Avenir Namur	0	0	3	1
CEP Fleurus	0	0	2	3
Gent Hades	0	0	1	1
Kortrijk	0	0	1	1
Leuven	0	0	1	1
Union SG	0	0	1	0
Antwerp Giants	0	0	1	0
Vilvoorde	0	0	1	0
Excelsior	0	0	0	2
Amicale SB	0	0	0	2
Caisse de Reports	0	0	0	1
Runners	0	0	0	1
Brabo	0	0	0	1
Niel	0	0	0	1
Merksem	0	0	0	1

Players with the most appearances in the Belgian Finals

Player	Finals Appearances	Years
Jef Eygel	13	1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1971
Jacques Stas	13	1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
Jacques Van Thillo	12	1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
Rik Samaey	12	1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
Dusan Djordjevic	12	2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Jos Peeters	11	1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985
Christophe Beghin	11	2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019
Pierre-Antoine Gillet	11	2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Eric Cleymans	10	1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004
David Desy	10	1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003

Players with the most Belgian titles

Player	Count	Years Won
Rik Samaey	12	1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
Dusan Djordjevic	12	2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Jacques Van Thillo	11	1964, 1966, 1966, 1967, 1967, 1969, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1976
Joseph Decombe	10	1959, 1960, 1961, 1961, 1962, 1962, 1963, 1963, 1964, 1964
Pierre-Antoine Gillet	10	2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Lievin Vinck	9	1960, 1961, 1961, 1962, 1962, 1963, 1963, 1964, 1964
Jef Eygel	8	1956, 1959, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964
Alex Op de Beeck	8	1961, 1961, 1962, 1962, 1963, 1963, 1964, 1964
Jacques Stas	8	1993, 1994, 1997, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004
Piet De Bel	8	2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015